This story is told from the perspective of Manfred, the Lord of the city.
My name is Manfred Turmburg.
I serve as the Lord of Tower City.
I recently became engaged to the Princess of the Glanz Empire, Her Imperial Highness Freundliche.
While our formal wedding ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Royal Capital, Alraune offered to host a pre-celebration party for us.
Alraune is not only the benefactor of our city, but she also bears a striking resemblance to the woman I have long adored, Lady Saint Iris.
I was overjoyed simply to have Alraune celebrate our union.
Furthermore, it is a certainty that our city will continue to prosper alongside her.
The Saint Nectar is a prime example; thanks to it, Tower City has already become one of the most famous locations on the continent.
However, that fame has drawn those with wicked intentions.
Greed has sprouted not only in foreign nations like the Empire, but also among the other nobles within our own borders.
This land is already on the front lines against the Demon King's Army.
I was well aware that people were scheming to exploit that vulnerability and seize the profits from the Saint Nectar for themselves.
Thankfully, it seemed this forest party would serve as an effective deterrent.
By showcasing that Alraune—who has the prestige of subjugating one of the Four Heavenly Kings and defeating four thousand Imperial Soldiers single-handedly—is an ally of this city, I could drive away hostile forces from both inside and out.
This party, meant to demonstrate the unbreakable bond between our city and the Forest Spirits, absolutely had to be a success!
But, in truth, I had one more objective in mind...
When we arrived at the venue, a small Alraune in the form of a potted plant greeted us.
"I have... been waiting... for you both!"
"As have we, Alraune. Thank you for inviting us today."
Freundliche followed with her own greeting.
"Master Alraune, thank you so much for hosting such a lovely event for us."
For some reason, these two were incredibly close.
Strangely enough, Freundliche had taken to Alraune as if they were old friends who had known each other for years.
She had even started calling her "Master" before I realized it.
When I asked her about it, she told me that Alraune was the reason the two of us had become engaged in the first place.
Realizing that this marriage might never have happened without Alraune made my gratitude grow even deeper.
As we stepped into the forest clearing, a massive crowd of residents cheered for us.
Some were faces I saw often at the manor, while others were strangers.
A party like this, where people gathered regardless of the barriers of social class, was a rare sight indeed.
Moreover, there were fairies and monsters in attendance as well.
Since the host was a plant monster, I suppose that was only natural.
Thanks to the atmosphere, for this moment alone, I was reminded that I was a human being first and a nobleman second.
I was truly grateful.
Now, it was time to carry out my second objective for the day.
"By the way, Alraune. Since this is a special occasion, I find myself wishing for a wedding gift."
"If it is... a gift... for Manfred-san... I have... one prepared... you know!"
"It isn't an object I want. I would like you to grant a wish of mine."
My true dream was to become a Court Artist!
However, when my father, the former lord, passed away, I was forced to take over the administration of this land at a young age.
In my heart, I had always wanted to live a life of painting.
My dream was to paint a portrait of the Lady Saint Iris I so admired and have it displayed in the Church headquarters...
I had discarded that dream once, but meeting Alraune had brought it back into the light.
The illustration of Alraune that I drew had spread across the continent on the labels of the Saint Hair Tonic!
That fact alone made me incredibly happy.
And so—
"For my wedding gift, I would like you to let me paint a Portrait of Lady Alraune!"
"Eh? A... portrait... of me!?"
"Yes. I promise I shall make it a masterpiece."
Alraune looked somewhat bashful.
Seeing her expression, I was struck by a sense of deja vu.
I remembered that look.
It was more than ten years ago, when I visited the Royal Capital with my father and greeted Lady Saint Iris for the first time.
"Are you the rumored Lady Iris? Oh, how beautiful! Please, you must let me paint you."
Looking back, I must have been quite rude.
I had pestered the young Lady Iris incessantly, visiting her over and over until I surely became a nuisance.
Alraune’s reaction just now was the exact same expression Lady Saint Iris had made when I first asked to paint her.
Since their faces were already identical, it gave me the illusion that I was speaking to the real Saint Iris.
"I... understand. It is... a wedding gift... after all. I shall... allow it... as a special... exception."
"Thank you, Alraune!"
With this, my goal was achieved.
Ah, I couldn't wait to pick up my brush.
"Since... I broke... the promise... to let you... paint me... once before..."
"Eh?"
"Ah! Oops... did I say that... out loud? It's... nothing at all!"
I thought I heard Alraune mumble something.
But her voice was too low for me to catch clearly.
Had I made some kind of promise with her before? I had no memory of such a thing.
While I was speaking with her, the voice of another Alraune echoed through the venue.
"I am... the Alraune... in charge... of the ceremony. Though it... will be brief... I look forward... to serving you."
A different Alraune had sprouted in the center of the clearing.
This one had a different eye color than the one standing before me.
It was likely a clone, similar to the one that stayed at my manor.
Still, I had never heard of a host using a clone to act as an MC.
I couldn't help but smile, thinking about what an extraordinary party this was turning out to be.
"We have... a surprise... for the bride... Princess Freundliche. Please... look over there."
In a corner of the venue, a Vine Cocoon unfurled.
From within stepped a woman who looked like a beastman covered in soft wool.
"Oh... No, could that be Barometz-chan!?"
Freundliche ran toward the woman she called Barometz.
Upon closer look, the woman wasn't human. Her lower body was entirely plant-like!
"Barometz-chan, why are you here!?"
"Princess Freundliche, it has been a long time."
The two embraced.
The air was thick with the emotion of a long-awaited reunion.
Alraune explained to me that the two of them were childhood friends.
Apparently, Alraune had heard from both of them that they wished to see each other again.
I had never seen Freundliche look so happy.
I felt that I could call this wedding a success based on this moment alone. I would have to find a way to thank Alraune properly later.
As the party began in earnest, the food was brought out.
The Alraune standing beside me explained the dishes.
"This is... Elf Buddhist Cuisine. It uses... no meat or fish... whatsoever... so it is... very healthy."
"This is... Wild Vegetable Tempura. These are... vegetables... coated in flour... and fried in oil."
"And over there... the Laobubear... dismantling show... has begun. The crowd... is quite large... isn't it?"
The dishes she introduced were all rare and fascinating.
It was my first time trying Elf cuisine, and the "tempura" was delightfully crispy and delicious!
I had also never seen a whole bear being roasted over a fire before; it was a magnificent sight.
"This wine is also incredibly crisp and delicious."
"Thank you. It was... a gift... from that gentleman... over there."
Alraune looked toward a red-haired young man.
In all my life, I had never tasted a wine of such high quality.
Something this expensive suggested the donor was no mere citizen; no one else could afford to provide so many bottles.
Furthermore, the red-haired man had the distinct air of a nobleman.
His face was unfamiliar, but he possessed an undeniable refinement.
He carried himself with such dignity that I wouldn't have been surprised to learn he was royalty from a foreign land.
If time allowed, I would have loved to paint his portrait as well.
"I think I'll go offer my thanks."
"Ah! That person... is a... bit..."
"Don't worry, I can manage a greeting on my own. Alraune, please look after Princess Freundliche."
Leaving Alraune behind, I approached the red-haired man.
"I heard from Alraune. I wanted to thank you for gifting us this wine today. It is truly the best I have ever had."
"Thou art Count Turmburg, I see. Hmm. Thou hast an intelligent face, much like Donfred Turmburg."
"...I am surprised. I am honored that you know of my great ancestor, Donfred Turmburg."
Donfred lived over five hundred years ago.
He was the first lord of our house, the one who won this territory in a war with a neighboring nation.
He was also famous for his love of art and had commissioned many self-portraits, which is likely where the man had seen his likeness.
"Tell me one thing. Art thou also a lover of bear meat, to the point of hunting in the forest?"
"Bear meat? I've eaten it, but I wouldn't say I'm fond enough to go hunting for it myself."
"As I thought. I have never seen thee in these woods."
Hunting was a standard pastime for nobles. If this man’s territory was nearby, I thought it might be nice to bond over a hunt.
"I am called Glüh. I offer my blessings to the descendant of Donfred Turmburg. May thou continue to be a good lord."
With that, the man named Glüh moved off to fetch more Saint Nectar Wine.
"I wonder which country that noble hailed from..."
I decided to ask Alraune about it later.
The party continued in high spirits.
There were various performances that kept the excitement at its peak.
"I never thought I'd see Elf White Magic with my own eyes."
Following a dance performance using white magic, the MC Alraune spoke up. "Everyone... forgive the... interruption... but please... look over there."
A Treant came forward, carrying a massive cake.
It was piled high with an incredible abundance of fruit.
I had never seen a cake so luxurious in my life.
The real Alraune was carried over to the side of the cake and beckoned us forward.
"Now... it is time... for the cake cutting!"
Alraune had told me about this beforehand.
Apparently, having the bride and groom plunge a knife into the cake was a special "Alraune-style" party tradition.
I escorted Princess Freundliche to the cake and received a knife from Alraune.
At that moment, music began to drift through the clearing.
It was the sound of a harp.
I had been hearing it for a while, but the melody had shifted.
Feeling wonderful, I cut into the cake alongside Freundliche.
The venue immediately erupted in applause.
A wedding in the Royal Capital could never provide this kind of pure happiness.
I truly had nothing but the deepest gratitude for Alraune.
"I wonder if it's really alright for me to be this happy."
By the time I finished eating the fruit cake—which was supposedly handmade by Alraune—I was in an exceptionally good mood.
Perhaps it was because the cake was even more delicious than I had imagined.
I felt truly at peace.
As fellow admirers of Lady Saint Iris, Freundliche and I had grown even closer.
As a friend, I wanted to tell Alraune one more time how much this meant to me.
"Alraune, I’ve had a wonderful time today. Truly, thank you."
"If you... enjoyed it... then it was... worth... all the planning!"
Alraune smiled as she replied.
She acted so much like a person that I still found it hard to believe she was a monster.
"Speaking of which, Alraune... I was curious. Who is playing that harp?"
The sound was beautiful and comforting.
It felt as though I were being invited into a heavenly realm.
"Don't be... surprised. Actually... the player... of this harp is—"
"Wait... my head... all of a sudden..."
The harp’s melody changed abruptly.
It was a mystical sound that seemed to vibrate deep inside my skull.
"Manfred-san!?"
Alraune called out my name.
But for some reason, my mind wouldn't focus.
"Forgive me, Alraune. I... I've suddenly become so sleepy..."
A strange, impossible feeling washed over me, as if I were being addressed by our primary deity, Goddess Selene.
Just by listening to the harp, I fell into the illusion that I was standing before the Goddess herself.
"Alraune... I'm sorry. I must have... enjoyed myself too much... and exhausted myself..."
I wanted to close my eyes right this second.
My brain told me that if I did, I would find true happiness.
Alraune was shouting something, but I couldn't make it out.
When I heard that melody, I felt as though a god were commanding me to forget everything and simply sleep...
I glanced to my side.
There, I saw Princess Freundliche already sleeping soundly.
"Oh... you too? Then... I shall join you..."
My eyelids snapped shut.
And just like that, my consciousness plunged into a dream.
Next time: The Secret of Priest Pandia.